Hitch device



Nov. '14', 1939.

H. H. RoLLlNs 2,180,257

HITCH DEVICE Y Filed Jan. 5, 1939 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT l oFFlCE 45 Claims.

This vinvention relates to a hitch device designed primarily for a two wheel trailer, but it is to be understood that a hitch device in accordance with this invention is for use in'` any V connection for which it may be found applicable.

The invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a hitch device so constructed and so arranged in relation to the rear bumper of a car or truck and the axle of the trailer whereby when the car or truck is backed in any direction, the trailer will be caused to move in a. line corresponding to the line of movement of the car or truck. l Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a .hitchdevice which is simple` in its construction, strong, durable, compact, readily installed, thoroughly eicient in its use, conveniently assembled and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture;

Embodying the objects aforesaid and to others which'may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically.l

on" lines 3 3, 4 4, 5 5 and 6 5 of Figure 1,

and

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the form of the steering arms employed.

Withreference to the drawing vI designates the rear bumper of'an automobile vehicle, such as an automobile or a truck and 2 indicates the axle of the trailer. The axle 2 at each end if formed with a knuckle 3 to which is pivotally connected by the pivot bolt 4, the `inner vertically disposed tubular end 5, Yof a spindle 6 upon which a trailer wheel 'l is revolubly mounted on and connected to. The inner tubular end 5 of the spindle 6 has formed integral therewith, intermediate its ends, the outer end of a forwardly directed horizontally disposed steering arm 8 of semi-ovoidal contour having a flattened inner end terminal portion 9 aperturedgas' at Il) and Offset with respet t0 that portion of the arm 3' with which it is integral.r 'Ihe portion 9 of the arm 8 is suspended below the axle 2 inwardly adjacent the closed'side of a knuckle 3 by means'to be referred to.

The hitching device is to be connected to the 5 axle 2 and the bumper I, and it not only includes the arms 8, but also a pair ofy spaced parallel re silient coupling elements Il), Illa, oflike form, a pair of oppositely disposed non-resilient lengthwise adjustable combined equalizers and coupling elements II, I2 of like form and a non-resilient combined pusher and drawA bar element I3.

The element I0, as well as the element Ia, consists of a front and a rear link Ill, I5 respec-` tively and a coiled tensioning spring I5 arranged between the linksk I4, I5. The forward end of spring I6 is connected, as at I'I to the rear end yof `link I4. The rear end of spring' I6 is connected, as at I8 to the forward end of link I5. The links I4, vI5 may be round or flat and are shown by way of example as flat.

The element Il, as well as the element I2, is formed of a rear and a forward section I9, l respectively. `The section I9 is of greater length than section I9a. The section I9 consists' of a peripherally threaded leading portion I9b of circular cross section and a follower'portion I9c of greater length than portion I9b. The portion I9 may be of any suitable cross section, preferably rectangular and it is soV shown. The portion I9c is of greater width than the diameter of portion I9". The section I9a is of angle form and includes a horizontal leg I9c1 mergingat its rear end into an upstanding apertured leg I9e; vThe portion I9b of section I9 extends through' theapertured leg I9-e of the section I9a. The portion I9b carries an adjusting nut I9b'which is to bear against the forward face of leg I9e, and a lock nut I9i which is to bear againstthe rear face of leg |95. This arrangement provides for adjusting the length of an element II or I2 and for locking it in its adjusted position. f

The pusher element I3 consists of a bar 20 having a V-shaped rear end terminal portion 2|. The element I3 may be round or flat and is shown by way of example as flat. VThe bar i3 is of greater thickness than the links I4,'I5 and the bars I9.

The links I 4 have openings 22 at their forward ends. The links l5 have openings 23 at their rear ends. The sections Illa'ofv elements II, I2 have openings 24 at their forward ends and the sections I9 of elements II, I2 have openings 25 at their rear ends. The bar 20 `has an opening 26 at its forward end. v'The' elements 9, I0 are arranged below the elements Il, I2. The opening 22 in the forward end of element 9 aligns with the opening 24 in the forward end of the section I 9a of element I2. The opening 22 in the forward end of element Ill aligns with the opening 24 in the forward end of the section I9@ of element II. The arms 8 are arranged above the rear ends of the elements 9, I0, and I2. The opening I0 of an arm 8 aligns with the opening 23 of element 9 and the opening 25 in the section I9 of element II. The opening III of the other arm 8 aligns with the opening 23 of eleelement I2. The inner end of an arm 8, rear end of element 9 and rear end of section`|9 of' element are pivotally connected together, as at 26a. The inner end of the other arm 8, rear end of element I 0 and rear. end of section I9 of element I2 are pivotally connected together, as at 21. The rear end terminal portion 2| of the element I3 extends to a point below the aXle2 and is fixedly secured againstthe lower face of the axle 2 by the holdfast means 28.

The device includes a set of split couplers, three in number and indicated at 29, 3|), and 3|. These couplers are of like form and disposed in parallel spaced relation with respect to the rear bumper I. These couplings are formed from a metallic strap bent in a manner to provide a vertically disposed split hollow head 32 of rec-Y tangular contour in vertical section and a twopart rearwardly extending stem 33. The parts of the latter are disposed in superposed spaced relation, are formed with aligned openings 34 and have their inner faces flush with the edges of the split of the head. The space between the parts of the stem of coupler 3|] is of greater width than the space between the parts of the stems of the couplers 29, 3|. Ther coupler 30 is arranged between the couplers 29, 3|) and spaced therefrom. The stems of the couplers extend rearwardly. The coupler 29 is employed in connection with the elements land II. The coupler 30 is employed in connection with the element I3 and the coupler 3| is employed in connection with the elements 9 and I2.

The forward end of the section I9@ of element I2 is arranged between the parts of the stem of couplers 29. The forward end of the link I4 of. element Illa is positioned against the lower face of the stem of coupler 29. The openings on the forward ends of the elements Illa, I2 align with the openings in the stem of coupler 29, and the said forward ends of the elements Ia, I2 are pivotally attached to the stem of coupler 29 by a means 35 which extends'through said aligning' openings and connected to the stem of coupler 29. The forward end of the section I9a of ele ment is arranged between the partsof 'the stem of coupler 3|. The forward end of the link I4 of element I0 is positioned against thelower face of the stem of coupler 3|. The openings at the forward ends of the elements I0, |I align with the openings in the stem of coupler 3|, and the said forward ends of the elements I0, II are pivotally attached to the stem of coupler 3| by a means 36 which extends through such aligning openings and is connected to the stem of coupler 3l. 'Ihe forward end of elementv I3 is positioned between the parts of the stem of coupler 30 and has its opening 26 align with the openings in such stem, and the said forward end of element I3 is pivotally attached to the' stem of coupler 30 by a means I1 whichextends through such aligning openings and is connected to the stem of coupler 30.

The means 35 and 36 are of like form and each consists of a headed bolt 38 and a clamping nut 39 as shown in Figure 3 with respect to the coupler 39. The means 31 with reference to Figure 4 consists of a headed bolt 40 and a clamping nut 4|.

The means 26a and the means 21 are of like form and each consists with reference to Figure 5 of a headed bolt 42 and a 'clamping nut 43.

Extending through the heads of the couplers 29, 30, and 3| is a carrier 45 in the form of a rectangular plate standing disposed on its lower lengthwise edge and snugly engaging throughout the inner faces of said heads. The carrier 45 will be suitably secured to the heads of the couplers, preferably by welding. The ends of the carrier 45 are flush with the outer -side surfaces of the couplers 29, 3|. The couplers 29, 3|, and 39 are-equally spaced from each other, and secured to the forward face of the carrier 45 between the couplers andfto the rear face ofthe bumper is a pair of spaced connectors 45, each in the form of a hinge. Preferably the forward sections or leaves of the connectors will be welded to bumper and the rear `sections or leaves of the connectors will be welded to the carrier. The pivots of the connectors are disposed at the upper ends of the sections or leaves thereof. The connectors disposed the bumper I in spaced relation to the couplers 29, 3|.

The hitching device when constructed inthe manner as shown and installed with respect to the bumper I and axle 2 provides when the automotive vehicle is backed in any direction for the trailer to follow the line of movement of the vehicle. y

To understand this let it be supposed that the automobile to which the bumper I is attached has its steering wheels turned to the left and is backing. This will tendtol swing the bumper clockwise on the pivot 31. As the bumper moves clockwise pressure is exerted on the member which acts at the joint 26a to swing the element 8 attached at that joint also ina clockwise direction which thus swings the .corresponding wheel 1 in a clockwise direction. Likewise tension is exerted on the element I2 which similarly effects turning of the remaining wheel 1in a clockwise direction. Thus the automobile steering wheels and the trailer wheels will be inclined in opposite directions and both automobile and trailer will mlove in the same circular arc. Under the normal rectilinear travelling movement the springs I5 hold the wheels straight.

What I claim is:

1. A hitching device for a trailer comprising a pair of steering arms, each adapted to have one end connected with a wheel of the trailer, anonresilient draw-bar element adapted tohave its rear end xed to the axle of the trailer, a pair of spaced parallel resilient coupling elements, a pair of adjustable coupling elements, spaced means for pivotally supporting corresponding ends of the pairs of coupling elements and the other end of the draw-bar element, a carried for coupling said spaced means together, means for hinging lthe carrier to a traction device, and means for pivotally connecting the other ends of the pairs of coupling elements to the other ends of said arms.

2. A hitching device for a trailer comprising a pair of steering arms, each adapted to have one end connected', with a wheel 4of the trailer, a nonresilient draw-bar element adapted to have its rear end fixed tov the axle of the trailer, a pair of spaced parallel resilient coupling elements, a pair of adjustable coupling elements, spaced means for pivotally supporting corresponding ends of the pairs of coupling elements andthe other end of the draw-bar element, a carrier for coupling said spaced means together, means for v`hinging the carrier to a traction device, and

means for pivotally connecting the other ends of the pairs of coupling elements to the other ends of said arms, the said pair of adjustable coupling elements extending at opposite inclinations across each other.

3. A hitching device for a trailer comprising a pair of forwardly directed curved steering arms adapted to have their outer ends connected With a pair of wheels of the trailer, a pair of resilient and a pair of adjustable coupling elements, means for pivotally connecting the rear ends of said elements to the inner ends of said arms, a combined pusher and draw-bar xedly secured at its rear end to the axle of the trailer, a structure for coupling together and for pivotally supporting the forward ends of the said pairs of elements and the other end of said drawbar, and means for hinging said structure to a traction device.

v 4. A bitching device for a trailer comprisinga pair of forwardly directed curved steering arms adapted to have their outer ,ends connected With a pair of wheels of the trailer, a pair of resilient and a pair of non-resilient coupling elements, means for pivot-ally connecting the rear ends of said elements to the inner ends of said arms, a

combined pusher and draw-bar elementfixedly` secured at its rearend to the axle of the trailer,

a structure for coupling together and pivotally supporting the forward. ends of the said pairs of elements'and the vother end of said drawbar with a traction device, means for connecting said structure to a traction device, the resilient coupling elements being disposed in 4parallel spaced relation, the non-resilient coupling elements ex-r tending-at opposite inclinations, across each other and across said combined pusherA and draw-bar element, the latter being arranged between the said pair of resilient coupling elements, andthe ends of the non-resilient coupling elements being aligned with the ends of the resilient coupling elements. l

. 5. A hitching device for trailers comprising a pair or" spaced steering arms for connection at one end with the trailer, a pair of forwardly exftending spaced resilient coupling elements, a pair of forwardly extending non-resilient oppositely inclined combined equalizers and coupling elefments, means for pivotally connecting the rear ends of the elements of the said pairs of elements to the other ends of said arms, a combined pusher and draw-bar element adapted `to have its rear end fixed to the trailer, spaced couplers,

means for pivotally connecting the forward ends of all of the said elements to said couplers, a carrier connecting said couplersin spaced sidewise opposed parallelrelation, andvmeansv secured to the carrier for connecting the latter to a traction device.

HENRY H. ROLLINS. 

